Umbrella tip-cup and catch therefor.



No; 758,696. PATBNTED MAY 3, 1904;

E. S. ROSS.

UMBRELLA TIP CUP AND CATCH THEREFOR. APPLICATION 11.21) AUG.14, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

F97 isr m' open with handle uppermost.

UNTTED STATES Patented May 3, 1904.

PATENT QEEIcE.

UMBRELLA TIP-CUP AND CATCH THEREFOR;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 758,696, dated May 3, 1904.

Application filed August 14, 1903. Serial No. 169,494. (No model.)

T0 (LZ/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERxns'r SYDNEY Ross, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing in Elizabeth street, Hobart, in the State of Tasmania, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrella Tip Cups and Catches Therefor; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide improvements relating to tip-cups of umbrellas whereby the ribs are held close to the stick when the umbrella is closed.

In an umbrella provided with my invention the retractable tip-cup is of any desired kind, and when retracted, thereby liberating the ribs, its tendency is to return to its previous position. The tendency, due usually to a spiral spring, is, however, restrained at the users will by any suitable catch. The umbrella may thus be opened, used, and eventually closed, and then by releasing the watch, which is ordinarily a flat spring provided with a head or button, the tip cup or. sleeveis freed and moves so as to inclose the tips of the ribs, provided said tips are then close to the stick.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is illustrated, Figure 1 showing the stick,

partly in longitudinal section, with my im- 1 provements in position when the umbrella is Fig. 2 shows the parts in Fig. I as seen when the umbrella is closed. Fig. 3 is a view of the tip-cup springcatch of the previous figures. Fig. I shows a tip-cu p catch-blank devised to enable the said catch and its button to be made of one piece of sheet metal, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the button formed by bending said blank. Fig. 6 is an elevation, partlysectional, of the stick with tip-cup and catch when the umbrella is open, showing the catch located at the handle end of the tip-cup. Fig. 7 shows thepartsin Fig. 6 when the umbrella is closed.

In the drawings is shown a stick 1!, titted to which is a tip-cup c of ferrule or like suitable type adapted to inclose the rib-tips and maintain that position by suitable means, as by the pressure of a spring (1, Figs. QandT. Any

suitable spring abutment or connection is provided within the tipcup, as a flange or projection 0. The tip-cup may be retracted as per arrow, Figs. 2 and T, (preparatory to opening the umbrella,) and brought clear of the ribtips 6. There is no novelty in said movement or in parts It to (7; but I further provide means to retain the tip-cup in retracted position namely, a tooth or catch 1. The catch preferably part of a spring-arm 1/, having a suitable pressure surface or button on it, the stick being recessed, if required, as at u, to allow the arm to be pressed inward. \Yhen it is desired to close the umbrella, the catch is moved clear of the tipcup, usually by pressing button with the thumb of the right hand or by the left hand, which also brings the ribtip close against the stick. This allows the tip-cup by the pressure of spring (Z to move till it incloses the rib-tips.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the catch or tooth projects outward, but cannot spring outward until a recess at a is brought opposite said tooth, which will enter said recess. As in Figs. 1, 2, the recess may be at c" in flange c to receive the catch 1* and also limit its outward movement, which occurs when the recess 1 is brought opposite said catch end.

Tip-cup may be slotted to permit button 1/ or its equivalent to occupy or pass in said slot, in which case the tip-cu p is not rotatable.

Instead of the recess 1:" the tooth w could simply catch under 0.

Any suitable means may be used to limit the longitudinal or like movement of the tipcup to retract or open same.

The blank for arm e may have extensions f, Fig. 4, to be bent at about right angles and forced into the umbrella-stick. It may also have one or more extensions y to be bent to form a button or pressure-surface which in section may be as shown in Fig. 5.

The relative sizes, shapes, and positions of parts and other details will varywidely in practice to suit umbrella-sticks of metal, wood, or other material, and the following claims are not intended to be limited in respect to those matters concerning which the mechanical, artistic, or luxurious tastes of the manufacturer may lind expression.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the projection or shoulder e on e limits the motion of flange c, or button 0 projects beyond the tip-cup and limits its downward or closing movement.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

1. In combination with an umbrella tip-cup having means to close it around the rib-tips, of

.a catch projecting within said tip-cup to retain it, when it is retracted, for the purpose described.

2. In combination with a movable umbrella tip-cup having a recess therein and means to normally close it around the rib-tips, of a catch to enter said recess and restrain the tipcup from closing, when in its retracted position, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a retractable umbrella tip-cup having a recess, a spring-catch with an outward projection to enter said recess as and for the purposes set forth.

a. In an umbrella tip-cup a spring abutment or flange having a recess for a catch adapted to restrain the tip-cup from closing.'

5. In an umbrella, the combination with the handle, of a tip-cup movable thereon, means for normally holding said tip-cup around the rib-tips of the umbrella, and a spring-catch mounted on said handle adapted to engage the inside face of said ti p-cup for locking the same when in its retracted position.

6. In an umbrella, the combination with the handle, of a tip-cup movable thereon, means for normally holding said tip-cup around the rib-tips of the umbrella, and a device for locking said tip-cup in its retracted position, comprising a resilient member secured at one end to the umbrella-handle and provided at its other end with locking means engaging said tip-cup.

7. In an umbrella, the combination with the handle, of a tip-cup movable thereon, means for normally holdingsaid tip-cup around the rib-tips of the umbrella, and locking means extending within said tip-cup comprising a resilient member secured at one end to the urnbrella-handle and provided at its other end with locking means engaging the inner face of said tip-cup.

8. In an umbrella, the combination with the handle, of a movable tip-cup thereon provided with an annular recess, and means for normally holding the tip-cup around the rib-tips of the umbrella, of a locking member secured at one end to said handle and provided at its other end with means for'engaging said recess and holding said tip-cup locked when in its retracted position.

9. In an umbrella, the combination'with the handle, of a movable tip-cup thereon, provided with an annular recess on its inner face and means for normally holding said tip cup around the rib-tips of the umbrella, and means for locking said tip-cup when in its retracted position, comprising a spring operated catch within said tip-cup engaging the recess thereof.

4 10. In combination with amovable umbrella tip-cup having a recess therein and means to normally close it around the rib-tips, of a spring-arm having an end or catch to enter said recess and restrain the tip-cup from closing when in its retracted position, and a projection on said arm, for limiting the movement of the tip-cup.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST SYDNEY ROSS. 

